Fabric care appliance

ABSTRACT

Appliances, methods and systems in which steam can be applied to a fabric and a heated surface can be used to press and/or dry the fabric.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to fabric care appliances, and morespecifically to appliances which emit steam and include a heatingsurface.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Garment steamers are often used to smooth wrinkles in clothing or otherfabrics, and also as a way of freshening clothes between cleanings.Typically, a handheld portion of garment steamer releases steam toward atarget fabric, and the steam relaxes the fibers in the fabric. In somesteamers, the steam is emitted from a nozzle, and in other steamers, thesteam is emitted from holes in a flat metal plate.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention provided herein are directed to appliances,methods and systems in which steam can be applied to a fabric and aheated surface can be used to press and/or dry the fabric.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a fabric care appliancesystem comprises an appliance body including a steam outlet configuredto emit steam from the appliance, a heatable pressing surface configuredsuch that no steam passes through the heatable pressing surface, and afirst heating element configured to heat the heatable surface.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a fabric careappliance system comprises an appliance body including a steam outletconfigured to emit steam from the appliance, a rigid heatable surface,and a first heating element configured to heat the rigid heatablesurface. The system also includes a steam-permeable fabric positionableover the steam outlet such that steam permeates through thesteam-permeable fabric when the steam is emitted from the appliance.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a fabric careappliance system comprises an appliance body including a heatablepressing surface which extends outwardly from the appliance body, afirst heating element configured to heat the heatable pressing surface,and a steam outlet configured to emit steam from the appliance, thesteam outlet being positioned at a distance from the heatable pressingsurface. The heatable pressing surface and the steam outlet areconstructed and arranged such that when the heatable pressing surface iscontacted to a fabric surface, the steam outlet is positioned at adistance away from the fabric surface.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a fabric careappliance system comprises an appliance body including a heatablepressing surface, a first heating element configured to heat theheatable pressing surface, and a steam outlet configured to emit steamfrom the appliance. The system also includes a steam generator includinga second heating element, the second heating element being distinct fromthe first heating element.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide certain advantages.Not all embodiments of the invention share the same advantages and thosethat do may not share them under all circumstances.

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as thestructure of various embodiments of the present invention are describedin detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. Forpurposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in everydrawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fabric care appliance with asteam-permeable fabric mounted over a steam outlet according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 2 shows the fabric care appliance of FIG. 1 with thesteam-permeable fabric removed;

FIG. 3 is a side of a fabric care appliance applying steam and pressinga fabric; and

FIG. 4 shows the placement of various functional components with afabric care appliance according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the invention are described below and/or shown in thedrawings. These aspects of the invention may be used alone and/or in anysuitable combination with each other. Aspects of the invention are notlimited in any way by the illustrative embodiments shown and describedherein. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of theinvention may be used alone or in any suitable combination with otheraspects of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention provided herein are directed to fabric careappliances which may be used to freshen and press various fabrics with ahandheld steam and heat applicator. For example, a fabric care appliancemay be used to apply steam to garments, upholstery, drapes, etc., whileadditionally pressing the target fabric with a heated surface. Accordingto one aspect of the disclosure, the surface may be heated by a heatingelement which is separate from a heating element that heats a steamgenerator. In some embodiments, the fabric care appliance may beentirely contained within a single handheld unit. Additionally, severaldifferent attachments may be provided for the appliance so that anattachment which is well-suited to a particular task may be used.

Known garment steamers which apply only steam to fabrics can be usefulin many situations. Such steamers often include a handheld unit which isconfigured to deliver steam to a fabric via a steam nozzle or othersteam outlet. However, for smoothing wrinkles and giving fabrics a crisplook, application of steam alone may provide only temporary wrinklereduction. In some cases, once the fabric dries, some of the wrinklesmay reappear.

In embodiments of fabric care appliances disclosed herein, a heatingsurface (e.g., a heating bar) and a steam outlet are separately providedon a handheld unit. With such an arrangement, as a user moves thehandheld unit across the surface of garment (or other fabric), steam isapplied to the garment, followed by a pressing action of the heatingbar. The steam relaxes the fibers in the garment, and the heating barstretches the fibers into a flattened state. Additionally, the heatingbar may help to dry any residual moisture left by the steam. Theapplication of steam also may help to remove odors and sanitize thefabric.

With the steam outlet being separate from the heating surface, asteam-permeable fabric may be placed over the steam outlet in someembodiments. The steam-permeable fabric may reduce or eliminate waterspotting on a garment by blocking droplets of water from reaching thegarment. By reducing undesired water spotting, a higher steam rate maybe used in some embodiments as compared to other garment steamers.

A first heating element may be used to heat the heating surface, and asecond, distinct heating element may be used as part of steam generationin some embodiments. In this manner, the heating of the heating surfacemay be controlled separately from the heating of the steam generator.Further, the heating surface can be controlled or designed to reach aparticular temperature or temperature range without consideration of howthe control of the heating element will affect steam generation.

A fabric care appliance body 100 is shown in FIG. 1 with an operatinghead 102 including a heating bar 104 and a steam-permeable fabric 106positioned over a steam outlet 114 (see FIG. 2). A hand grip area 108 ispositioned below operating head 102 with convenient access to a trigger110 which a user actuates to emit steam from the steam outlet.

A liquid reservoir 112 is provided in an upper region 116 of appliancebody 102. Liquid reservoir 112 is typically filled with water, andduring operation, the water is conducted to a source for generatingsteam, such as a flash boiler. Liquid reservoir 112 may have a capacityof approximately 200 ml in some embodiments, although any suitablevolume may be used. Access to liquid reservoir 112 to add liquid may beprovided with an opening covered by a flexible plastic closure element120. Of course any suitable type of access closure may be provided.

A pump and a steam generator may be held within appliance body 102 in alower region 118 of appliance body 102. By positioning components suchas the pump and the steam generator in lower region 118, the center ofgravity of the appliance may be kept low on the appliance body, forexample, below hand grip area 108. In some embodiments, a liquidreservoir and/or a steam generator may be positioned in a unit that isseparate from appliance body 102. For example, the liquid reservoir andthe steam generator may be held in a floor unit or a separately-heldunit, and a steam conduit may conduct steam to steam outlet 114.

By positioning of heating bar 104 (or other heating surface) on the sameappliance body as steam outlet 114, but at least slightly separated fromsteam outlet 114, as a user moves the handheld unit across the surfaceof a fabric, steam is applied to the fabric, followed by a pressingaction of heating bar 104. This dual action can be achieved with asingle pass of appliance body 102 when the appliance body is moved in adirection where steam outlet 114 leads heating bar 104. Of course insome embodiments, a user may apply steam with steam outlet 114 to anarea of a garment, and then in a distinct motion, return to the samegarment area and apply the heating bar.

Heating bar 104 is shown as being above steam-permeable fabric 106 inFIG. 1, but heating bar may be positioned below steam-permeable fabric106, or to the side of steam-permeable fabric 106. More than one steamoutlet may be employed in some embodiments, and more than one heatingsurface, such as two distinct heating bars, also may be used.

In some steaming appliance, higher steam rates can sometimes lead toundesired water droplet emission due to incomplete boiling of the water.By positioning a steam-permeable fabric 106 over steam outlet 114, theemission of water droplets onto target materials can be reduced oravoided. In some embodiments, steam may be emitted from steam outlet 114at a rate of 25 grams/minute.

With steam-permeable fabric 106 removed in the embodiment shown in FIG.2, steam outlet 114 is visible. Fabric care appliance systems disclosedherein do not necessarily required steam-permeable fabric or structurefor supporting steam-permeable fabric. In some embodiments, one or moresteam outlets apply steam directly to target materials.

As shown in FIG. 3, embodiments of the fabric care appliance disclosedherein may be used to apply steam 132 to a target fabric such as agarment 134, while simultaneously pressing garment 134 with a heatingsurface, such as heating bar 104. To help the user apply pressure togarment 134 with heating bar 104, garment 134 may hang vertically, forexample, from a door 136. A pad 138 may be interposed between garment134 and door 136 to protect garment 134 and door 136. Pad 138 may be alarge pad made of quilted terry cloth or any other suitable material,and may include elastic elements for hanging the pad from a door.

When a vertical backing such as a door is not available or is notdesired, weighted clips (not shown) may be provided to attach to thebottom of a hanging garment to provide tension in the garment, therebyallowing some pressure to be applied to the garment with heating bar104.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, by positioning steam-permeable fabric 106 at adistance from garment 134, steam 132 has room to distribute over alarger area than if steam-permeable fabric were placed in contact withgarment 134. Of course in some embodiments, steam-permeable fabric maybe contacted directly to garment 134.

Heating bar 104 may be heated with a heating element that is distinctfrom a heating element that provides energy to the steam generator. Forexample, in some embodiments, heating bar 104 may be heated by apositive temperature co-efficient (PTC) heating element 138 (see FIG.4), while the steam generator is heated with a resistance heatingelement, a separate PTC heating element, or any other suitable heatingelement. PTC heating element 138 may be configured to heat heating bar104 to a temperature between 150 and 170 degrees Celsius, such as 160degrees Celsius. Heating bar 104 may be constructed of die-cast, hardanodized aluminum in some embodiments. Of course other materials may beused such as polished aluminum, brushed aluminum, stamped aluminum,extruded aluminum, plated plastics, stainless steel, low carbon steelwith non-stick coating, or other suitable materials.

Steam-permeable fabric may be formed with natural materials such ascotton, or synthetic materials. In some embodiments, steam-permeablefabric may be formed with a microfiber material.

Various accessories may be attached to appliance body 102. For example,a frame may be attachable which keeps the heating bar 104 separated fromthe target material by a distance. An upholstery brush may beattachable, such that brushes are provide below steam outlet 104.Additionally, a lint brush attachment may be provided.

One embodiment of an arrangement of components is shown in FIG. 4. Apower switch 140 is provided on the bottom rear portion of appliancebody 102. A steam generator 142 is positioned toward the front ofappliance body 102. An electric liquid pump 144 moves water fromreservoir 112 to steam generator 142 via a water conduit 146. Trigger110 may be configured to activate pump 144. Steam produced by steamgenerator 142 is conducted to steam outlet 114 via a steam conduit 148.An on/off rocker switch 150 may be provided to activate the heater barand the steam generator. The arrangement of components illustrated inFIG. 4 is but one example of possible component arrangements, includingarrangements where one or more components are positioned in a unitseparate from appliance body 102.

For purposes herein, the terms “connect”, “connected”, “connection”,“attach”, “attached” and “attachment” refer to direct connections andattachments, indirect connections and attachments, and operativeconnections and attachments.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of thisinvention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications,and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Suchalterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part ofthis disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings areby way of example only.

1. A fabric care appliance system comprising: an appliance bodyincluding: a steam outlet configured to emit steam from the appliance; aheatable pressing surface configured such that no steam passes throughthe heatable pressing surface; and a first heating element configured toheat the heatable surface.
 2. A fabric care appliance system as in claim1, further comprising a source to generate steam, the steam generationsource including a second heating element that is distinct from thefirst heating element.
 3. A fabric care appliance system as in claim 1,further comprising a liquid reservoir.
 4. A fabric care appliance systemas in claim 1, wherein the appliance body includes the steam generationsource and the reservoir.
 5. A fabric care appliance system as in claim1, wherein the first heating element is configured such that theheatable pressing surface cannot exceed 200 degree Celsius.
 6. A fabriccare appliance system as in claim 1, wherein the first heating elementis configured to heat the heatable pressing surface to between 150 and170 degrees Celsius.
 7. A fabric care appliance system as in claim 1,wherein the heatable pressing surface has a convex curved shape.
 8. Afabric care appliance system as in claim 1, wherein the heatablepressing surface has a width and a height, with the width being largerthan the height, wherein the steam outlet is positioned adjacent to thewidth of the heatable pressing surface.
 9. A fabric care appliancesystem as in claim 1, wherein the first heating element comprises a PTCheating element.
 10. A fabric care appliance system as in claim 1,further comprising a steam-permeable fabric positioned over the steamoutlet.
 11. A fabric care appliance system comprising: an appliance bodyincluding: a steam outlet configured to emit steam from the appliance; arigid heatable surface; and a first heating element configured to heatthe rigid heatable surface; and a steam-permeable fabric positionableover the steam outlet such that steam permeates through thesteam-permeable fabric when the steam is emitted from the appliance. 12.A fabric care appliance system as in claim 11, further comprising asteam generator, the steam generator including a second heating elementthat is distinct from the first heating element.
 13. A fabric careappliance system as in claim 12, wherein the steam generator is in theappliance body.
 14. A fabric care appliance system as in claim 11,wherein the first heating element comprises a PTC heating element.
 15. Afabric care appliance system as in claim 11, wherein the rigid heatablesurface has a convex curved shape.
 16. A fabric care appliance systemcomprising: an appliance body including: a heatable pressing surfacewhich extends outwardly from the appliance body; a first heating elementconfigured to heat the heatable pressing surface; and a steam outletconfigured to emit steam from the appliance, the steam outlet beingpositioned at a distance from the heatable pressing surface; wherein theheatable pressing surface and the steam outlet are constructed andarranged such that when the heatable pressing surface is contacted to afabric surface, the steam outlet is positioned at a distance away fromthe fabric surface.
 17. A fabric care appliance system as in claim 16,wherein the heatable pressing surface is configured such that no steampasses through the heatable pressing surface.
 18. A fabric careappliance system as in claim 16, further comprising a steam-permeablefabric positionable over the steam outlet.
 19. A fabric care appliancesystem as in claim 16, further comprising a steam generator, the steamgenerator including a second heating element that is distinct from thefirst heating element.
 20. A fabric care appliance system as in claim19, wherein the first heating element comprises a PTC heating element.21. A fabric care appliance system comprising: an appliance bodyincluding; a heatable pressing surface; a first heating elementconfigured to heat the heatable pressing surface; a steam outletconfigured to emit steam from the appliance; and a steam generatorincluding a second heating element, the second heating element beingdistinct from the first heating element.
 22. A fabric care appliancesystem as in claim 21, wherein the steam generator is included in theappliance body.
 23. A fabric care appliance system as in claim 21,wherein the first heating element comprises a PTC heating element.
 24. Afabric care appliance system as in claim 21, further comprising asteam-permeable fabric configured to be positionable over the steamoutlet.